High-flying Stars shine – yet again
STAR of India took pride of place at a packed North End Stadium when they beat Seagulls 3-0 to clinch the East London Central 2nd Edition Cliffie Brown/ Leon Meyer Memorial Easter Football Tournament yesterday.
The outstanding performances of the old established North End clubs caught the eye and added more glamour to this year's competition after five days of tantalising action.
Stars, celebrating their 115th Anniversary this year, reached their third consecutive Easter championship cup final when they beat Riverside 1-0 in a closely fought semifinal on Sunday.
They then met defending champions Seagulls in a repeat of last season’s epic cup final.
Seagulls in their 98th Anniversary year were aiming for their fourth Easter championship trophy while the green and whites from Braelyn wanted nothing less than to avenge last season’s defeat and win their second Easter trophy in three years.
Both sides were on the offensive from the opening whistle and it was Stars who made the early breakthrough when in the ninth minute Loyiso Bolsiki delivered a threatening corner-kick that was flicked on by Temba Moloi only to find the unfortunate Seagulls defender Luke Willard misdirecting his header into his own net.
Seagulls did not lay down though and were threatening down wide on the left with the diminutive Marco van Wyk a constant threat.
Stars’ young and agile keeper Ryan Vasi produced a commanding performance in the first half snuffing out all aerial threats the opposition threw at him.
Seagulls were dealt a killer blow at the start of the second half when after conceding a corner-kick a headed clearance landed sweetly in the path of the impressive Bolsiki who volleyed home giving the keeper no chance.
The Gulls had a chance to reduce the deficit but with 10 minutes to go Lonwabo Vuso pulled it wide with the goal at his mercy.
Moloi sealed the deal for Stars when he was sent through with five minutes remaining and his cracking drive found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.
There was ecstasy all round in the Stars camp when the final whistle signalled the Braelyn side did it again to grab the honours for the second time in three seasons.
It can be said that 16-times Easter champions Saints are truly back as a force as club coach Shaun Lyons guided his 56-year-old club side to the Easter Gold Cup final.
However it was not to be a happy ending as Duncan Village-based Conquerors beat Saints 2-0 to take the trophy courtesy of two second half goals from inspirational skipper Kwanele Kangela.
Pride of India has been the most impressive side in this tournament as all three of their sides – seniors, U18s and Masters – clinched cup final places.
Prides seniors triumphed in the silver section beating Buffalo City Sports Academy 2-0 via quality strikes from new signing Keith Bantom and substitute Devogin Joubert.
Prides Masters with their galaxy of North End legends deservedly booked their place in the Masters Cup final but fell short as defending champions Bellstar earned a smash and grab 1-0 win courtesy of a second half goal from Clint Japhta.
Prides U18 played flawlessly to advance to the U18 cup final but were beaten by a last-minute superb freekick from Riverside's impressive talisman and U18 player of the tournament Alezandro Langley to win it for the blue train.
Brothers of Peace beat Stutterheim based Dangerous Darkies 3-0 take the bronze title.